In a bid to increase the sustainable access and management of groundwater in the Horn of Africa borderlands, the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation (MoWSI) Wednesday launched the Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Project (HoAGW4RP).
Speaking during the launch, Cabinet Secretary MoWSI Ms. Alice Wahome said the project which started two years ago shall run for six years and targets five Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS).
According to Wahome, the 135 million US dollars project sponsored by the World Bank will be implemented in Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa and shall see approximately 1.5 million people benefit from the project.
“We know the dire situation that Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea and IGAD are going through hence will get fully focus our attention to overcome this,” said Wahome.
At the same time, Principal Secretary MoWSI Mr. Kipronoh Ronoh said that he’ll be in charge of the implementation and facilitation of the program.
“We are looking at reviewing our budget and programs so that we address the emergencies and make them a priority as we launch this program so that we work towards its betterment,” said Ronoh
Wajir County Governor Ahmed Abdullahi during his remarks expressed the dire state of the arid region stating that they repair 10 to 15 boreholes daily.
He urged the government to fast-track the implementation of HOAGW4RP to improve the lives of those affected by drought, especially in the semi-arid regions.
“We are currently doing water trucking in Wajir. So far 155 settlements have benefited,” said Abdullahi.